Foreign visitors planning a trip to Korea before Wednesday, November 11, 2026 should check two separate official systems now: the K-ETA site says some email-related services will be temporarily unavailable during scheduled maintenance that day, while the Ministry of Justice has again warned travelers to avoid fake e-Arrival Card websites. These notices matter for people who still need to apply, verify status, reset passwords, or file arrival information close to departure. k-eta.go.kr
The most immediate deadline is the K-ETA maintenance window on November 11, 2026, from 12:00 to 13:30 KST. During that period, the official notice says email verification codes, notification emails, member registration, password resets, non-member K-ETA applications, email-based status checks, and email inquiries will be affected. Registered users can still log in and proceed, but anyone relying on email verification should finish before the maintenance starts.
For arrival paperwork, Korea’s immigration authority says the official e-Arrival Card website is only the government e-Arrival Card site, and it does not charge a fee. The warning says some fake sites have copied the service name and asked for payment details, so travelers should check the domain carefully before entering personal information. immigration.go.kr
What travelers need to know
| Item | Official rule or notice | Date / condition |
|---|---|---|
| K-ETA service interruption | Email verification, notifications, password reset, non-member applications, and email inquiries are temporarily affected | November 11, 2026, 12:00–13:30 KST |
| K-ETA temporary exemption | The exemption extension announced by the Ministry of Justice runs through December 31, 2026, for the countries/regions already covered | Effective January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 |
| e-Arrival Card access | Official site is only e-arrivalcard.go.kr; the service does not charge a fee | Current immigration warning and official guidance |
| e-Arrival Card filing window | Can be completed from 3 days before arrival until immigration inspection | Official immigration guide |
The K-ETA exemption notice is not a new 2026 extension announcement made today; it is the official Ministry of Justice notice that says the temporary exemption period was extended through December 31, 2026. Travelers from the listed exempt countries can still choose to apply for K-ETA if they want K-ETA-related benefits, but the notice says the application fee still applies. Existing approved K-ETAs remain valid until their expiration date, and the fee is non-refundable.
For arrival cards, the immigration guide says the e-Arrival Card can be submitted online starting 3 days before entry and before immigration inspection. The official guide also says the system is for eligible foreign entrants, including short-term visitors and some long-term visa holders who have not completed alien registration, but travelers should confirm their own status before assuming they are included.
Practical step: if you are arriving soon, use the official immigration pages above, finish any K-ETA email-dependent action before the maintenance window, and avoid any site that asks for payment for the e-Arrival Card. If you are unsure whether you need K-ETA, an arrival card, both, or neither, check the official eligibility notice before you fly.
